Casting machine



June 24, 1924. 1,498,675

7 I E. L. WlLKE I CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fave/Z101 27 Jazz/02; fLZ/ia June 24, 1924.

E. L. WlLKE CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 192] 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lku/i/zlzzil/ia 0 mm' y W.

* m um i June 24, 1924. 1,498,675

E. L. WILKE CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z9 c 3:11-11 1:11: 1:111: :35: L J

5 J 5 f A 41 June 24 1924.

E. L. WILKE CASTING MACHINE Filed S pt- 6. 4 SheetS-Sh eet 4 Patented June 2d, 1924.

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EEWIN L. WEI-XE, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASIGNOR CPO METALS REFINING COM- raw, or nammonn, rnnran'a,

A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

CASTING IMGHINE.

Application filed Septembenfi, 1921. Serial No. 498,814.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ERWIN L. VVILKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Casting hilachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to casting machines and more particularly to casting machines for casting storage battery grids.

One object of the invention is to fill the molds by submerging the same, while closed, in the molten metal and allowing the cavities to fill, the air escaping as the cavities fill, thus producing castproducts conforming minutely to the contour of the cavities, no matter how complex, by avoiding trapping air and producing air pockets in the products.

Another object of the invention is to make the machine automatic in its operation so that filling the molds, ejecting the cast product therefrom, and repeating the opera tions may be done without the attendance of an operator after the machine has been set in motion- I Y A still further object is to permit the casting of a plurality of products all at one time and thus increase the production of the machine.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the .a pended claims.

In the accompanying rawingse Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a casting machine constructed in accordance with my invention Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing adetail of construction; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of said machine, the driving mechanism at opposite ends of the machine being omitted for the purposes of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of said machine; I

Fig. 7 is a side view with parts in section of one of the mold members;

ends thereof. Suspended in the-trough 2 is a crucible or melting pot 3 adapted to contain the molten metal from which the products cast by the machine are made, the source of heat for maintaining the metal in the pot 3 in molten condition being con tained within the trough member 2.

Mounted on the base 1 are a plurality of upright standards 4:, 4, one at each corner of the base. This provides a pair of standards at each side of the machine and on opposite sides -of the pot 3, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5. Extending between the standards 4,,

4, at each side of the machine, is a rail or track-way 5 secured at its ends to sleeves-6, 6 slidably mounted on the standards. Extending across the machine above the pot 3 and between the rails 5, 5 is a carriage 7 in the form of a flat plate or table. This is supported by the'rails 5,5 and has a connection therewith permitting the carriage to be moved or slid endwise of said rails, the carriage, in the instance shown, having depending side flan es 8, 8 in grooves in the rails 5, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Depending from the under side of the carriage 7 are a plurality'of molds 9, 10, arrangedin two lateral rows, with three molds 9 in one row and the three molds 10 in the otherrow, in the particular machine illus- I trated. The molds are all made alike and operate in the same manner as each other. Each mold, as shown In Figs. 7 and 8, comprise astationary mold-member 11 and a movable mold member 12, these being connected together adjacent their upper ends by a hinge pintle 13. To normally maintain the mold members closed, I provide a spring 14, as shown in Fig. 7. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the mold membersof each moldare provided with registering mold cavities 15, 15, arranged side by side; and having shapes and contours to cast two battery'grids, such as 16 in Fig. 9. To eject the grids from the mold after being cast and when the mold is open, ll provide each of the two mold members of each mold with spring pressed ejector pins 17. These are arranged at one of the corners of each of the mold cavities and are held retracted from the cavities during the casting operation by the pins contacting with each other when the mold is closed, The contacting ends of the pins are reduced'or cut away sufficiently to form shoulders which bear against the grids and eject them from the mold when the mold members are swung apart. These pins 17 are provided on each of the mold members so that, should the cast grid stick or adhere to either of the mold members when swung apart, the ejector pins of the mold member to which the casting adheres will eject the cast product therefrom.

dournaled in the base 1 is a shaft 18. This extends lengthwise of the machine and under theheat containing trough or chamher 2. Fixed on this shaft are two cam members 19, 19 having the same general contour as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Extending between and secured to the sleeves 6, 6, at

each end of the machine, is a frame 20 pro vided at its lower end with a roller 21 bearing on the periphery of-the associated cam 19, as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. For rotating the shaft 18, T provide an electric or other motor 22st one end of the machine,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This motor is mounted on a suitable support (not shown} and has driven byits armature shaft a worm 23 in mesh with a worm gear 24 keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft l8.' This gearing is located in a protective housing 25, as shown in the drawings. When the shaft 18 is rotated, the cams l9, l9 thereon act to move the carriage 7 up and down for carrying the molds 9 and 10 into and out of the molten metal in the crucible or pot 3. the frames 20 being raised and lowered and the sleeves 6, 6 sliding vertically on the standards d. V

For reciprocating the carriage 7 horizon tally, for carrying the molds 9 and to alternately into out of position over crucible 3, provide, at the other of machine, electric or other motor as, also mounted on suitahle suppo i @l the armature she a" zar pinion u mesa curnaled sing a i .u a. with a worm at you d cast on nsects in mesh with a gear wheel 35 gear pinion 3d The fixed to one end of a crank shaft 36.

crank pin 37 of this shaft is slidably retained riage 7 raised with both rows of molds 9 and 10 out of and above the pot 3, with the set of molds 9 directly above the pot and the set 10 over and above one of the discharging spaces at one side of the pot The motor 22 is started and rotates the shaft 18 in a direction to cause the cams 19 to lower the carriage 7 and cause the molds 9 and l0 to descend. This brings therows of molds 9 down into the molten metal in the pot 3, the mold cavities filling by gravity as soon as the molds are submerged Sulliciently to carry their inlet openings l5 below the level of said metal. (See Fig. 8.) As the cavities fill, air is expelled therefrom through vent passages 15*, one for each cavity and opening into the atmosphere above the level of the metal in the crucible 3. This manner of filling the mold, by sub-' merging the mold with the mold members closed and allowing the cavities to fill by gravity, the air being free to pass out of the cavities as the level of the metal rises therein, prevents the trapping of air in the cavity and thus produces a cast product perfect in outline and detail and conforming exactly to the contour and shape of the cavity without imperfections being formed therein, as encountered by the method heretofore employed. My improved method is highly acvantageous in casting battery grids because the many cross bars of the product are perfectly formed, united one with the other and free from breaks and other faults so numerous as heretofore. This makes the metal of a substantially uniform thichness the associated inclined rail 39 or 42 as the carriage 7 descends to open the molds by swinging the movable mold members 12 outward from the stationary ones 11. The pins 17 eject the cast grid from the open molds, and the cast grids "as discharged may be caught in a car 41 below the row of discharging molds.

After the molds 9 have filled, a continued rotation of the shaft 18 causes the cams 19 to raise the carriage 7 and carry the mold members 9 out of the pot 3,.at the same time raising the other set of-molds 10, these closing as the rollers 40 pass off the up er ends of the rails 39. As soon as the mo ds 9 and 10 have cleared the top of; the crucible 3, the carriage 7 has reached the limit of its upward movement, and. an electric switch mechanism, to be hereinafter de scribed, is operated to turn off the current to the motor 22 and stop the same. Immediately after, current to the other motor 26 isturned on through said switch mechanism and the carriage 7 moved on the rails horizontally in a direction to shift the loaded molds 9.from over the crucible 3 to a position over-the discharging space'at the adjacent side of the trough 2. At the same time the empty molds are shifted into I position over and above the crucible 3. This motion is caused through the, rotation of the crank shaft 36 and the reciprocation of the yoke 38. When the two rows of molds are thus positioned, the current to the motor 26 is turned off automatically, through said switch mechanism, and also through the latter the current is againturned on to the motor 22. As the latter is operated, the carriage 7 is again lowered and forcesthe now empty molds 10' into the. batch of molten metal in the pot 3 for filling said molds by gravity in' the same 'manner as heretoforedescribed. While the molds 10 are being lowered for filling, the others 9 are opened for discharging by their rollers 40 engagingthe downwardly inclined rails 42. Afterthe molds 10 have been filled and the molds 9 have been emptied, the carriage 7 is again raised and, when reaching the ,limitof it's upward movement, operates the switchmechanism to turn off current to the motor 22. and turn on current to themotor 26. This operates through the yoke 38 to draw the carriage'7 back into position with the loaded molds 10 over their discharging space and the empty molds 9 over the crucible 3. lVhen the parts reach this position,

the motor 26 is stopped and the motor 22 again started to lower the molds, the empty ones 9, into the crucible '3 for filling and the loaded ones against the rails 39 for'discharging. After these operations are completed, the table or carriage 7 is again raised and the cycle of movements repeated. The switch mechanism mentioned is constructed and operates as follows. At one f end of the machine is a controller switch 43 of any preferred construction and in circuit with both motors 22 and 26. The switch 43 is of the rotary type and includes a shaft 44 extending across the machine and above the path of vertical'movement' of the carriage 7. This shaft 44 is journaled in brackets 45, 45 supported from the adjacent standards 4., 4. Fixed to the shaft adjacent one end are two star wheels 46, 47, the former" operated through the vertical movement of the carriage 7 and the latter through the horizontal movement of the same; For the wheel 46, the carriage 7 is provided with an upright bar 48 (Figs. 4 and 10) having a pivoted trip 49 at its upper end and in the path of the'spokes ofthe star wheel 46. As the carriage 7 descends, the trip '49 trips over the interposed spoke of the wheel 46 and does not turn the same, as the motor 22 is kept in operation during the descent and rise of the carriage 7. As the carriage is raised, however, the trip 49 contacts with 1 the spoke in its path and turns the wheel 46 to cut oil the current to. the motor 22. as

soonas the carriage reaches thaliinit of its upward movement. Through'the wheel 46, the current is also turned on to the motor 26, as soon as the motor 22 is stopped,.to

draw the carriage horizontally for changing the position of the rows of molds 9 and 10.

At one end of the carriage is an arm 50 in the same horizontal plane of. the carriage and projecting therefrom under the shaft 44 and beneath the star wheel 47. This arm has at its ends spring control. trips 51, 52.

These normally extend upward, as shown in Fig. '10, and are in the path of the spokes of the wheel 47. Thus, as the carriage 7 approaches the ends of its horizontal movement in one direction, one trip, say theone 51, turns the wheel 47 and through the switch 43 cuts off the current to the motor 26 i Q and sto the same. Atthe same time the switch is actuated by said trip 51 to turnon the current to the motor 22 to start the 'wheel 47 to cutout the motor 26 and turn on the one 22. 1

By] the construction described, the ma chine isautomatic in its operation. A pln rality of products is cast and discharged at regular intervals, the carriage being raised and lowered and-moved horizontally endwise fol the purposes mentioned through the operation of a switch mechanism controlled and operated through the movement of the machine. This allows. a greater production per machine, and filling the molds in the manner stated gains substantially a perfect product. I i While l have shown and described herein in detail a casting machine constructed in accordance with my invention, it is oi? course to be understood that the details of con struction and arrangement of parts illus trated may be variously changed and modilied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A casting machine, comprising a cruel-- ble adapted to contain molten metal, a mold, and mechanical means acting to dip the mold into the crucible for filling, moving the filled mold into a discharging position, and returning the empty mold back to the crucible for refilling.

2. A. casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metaha mold, mechanical means acting to dip the mold into the crucible for filling, moving the filled mold into a discharging position, returning the empty mold back to the crucible for refilling, and mechanical means acting each time a filled mold is brought to discharging position to open the mold for discharging the same. I

3. A casting machine,-comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a mold, mechanical means acting to dip the mold into the crucible for filling, moving the filled mold into discharging position, returning the empty mold back to the crucible for refilling, and means in the path of movementof the mold to discharging position for opening the mold for discharging the same.

4. A casting machine,comprising a cruciblc adapted to contain molten metal, a plurality of molds, and mechanical means acting to dip said molds into the crucible for filling, moving the filled molds to discharging position, and returning the empty molds back to the crucible for refilling, said means acting to fill one mold while moving another to discharging position.

5. A casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, two molds maintained in spacedv relation, and mechanicalmeans for carrying the empty molds alternately from discharging positions at opposite sides of the crucible to the crucible for filling by dip ing the molds into the crucible, and the filled molds back to the sides of the crucible "for discharging, said means dipping one mold while moving the other to dischargin position.

6. A casting mac iine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a vertically and horizontally movable mold, means acting each time the mold is brought over the crucible for moving the mold vertically into and out off the crucible tor filling the mold withmolten metal, means autoble neeaevs matically when the mold is filled and raised above the crucible for moving the mold horizontally to one side oi? the crucible for emptying the mold and returning the empty mold back over the crucible for refilling, and means acting each time the filled mold is brought to one side of the crucible for opening the mold and allowing the cast prod-- not to be discharged therefrom,

'l. A casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a verticallyand horizontally movable mold having separable mold members, means acting each time the mold is brougnt over the crucible "for moving the mold vertically into and out of the crucible for filling the mold with molten metal, means acting automatically when the mold is filled and raised above the crucible for moving the mold horizontally to one side of the crucible tor emptying mold and returning the empty mold back over the crucible ifor refilling, and means acting each time the filled mold is brou ht to one side of the crucible for opening the mold by separating the members thereof and allowing the cast product to be discharged thereirom,

8, A casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a vertically and horizontally movable mold having separable mold members, means for moving said mold vertically when over thecrucible into and out of the same for filling the mold with molten metal, and when at one side of the crucible moving the mold intoand out of emptying positlon, means acting automatically for moving the mold horizontally into and out oi said ositions, and means in the path of downward movement of the mold at one side of the crucible for opening the mold by separating said mold members and allowing the cast product to be discharged therefrom,

9. A casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a vertiically and horizontally movable carriage above said crucible, two molds supported from said carriage in lateral spaced rela tion, means for moving the carriage horizontally when the molds are above the crucible forcarrying the molds alternately from positions at opposite sides of the crucible to a position over the same, means for moving the carriage vertically for filling one mold by dipping the same into and out of the crucible and at the same time moving the other mold into and out of emptying position at one side oi the crucible, and means for opening the molds as they descend at opposite sides of the crucible for discharging the cast products therefrom.

10, A casting machine, comprising a cruci- L cull to contain metal, a 'ically and horizontally movable carri above said o '1 crucible, two molds supporteo lll) Laeaeae from said carriage in lateral spaced relation, power driven means for moving the carriage horizontally, when the molds are above the same, for carrying the molds alternately from positions at oppositesides of the crucible to a position over the same, separate power driven means for moving the carriage vertically for filling one mold by dippingthe same into and out of the crucible and at the same time moving the other mold into and out of emptying position at one side of the crucible, means for openin the molds as they descend at opposite si es of the crucible for discharglng the cast products therefrom, and means operable through the movement of said carriage for controlling the action of said power driven means.

11. A casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a vertically and horizontally movable carriage above said crucible, two molds supported from said carriage in lateral spaced rela tion, electrically actuated means for moving the carriage horizontally for carrying the molds alternately from positions at opposite sides of the crucible to a position over the same, separate electrically actuated means for moving the carriage vertically for filling one mold by dipping the same into and out of the crucible and at the same time-moving the other mold into and out of emptying position at one side of the crucible, means for openin the molds as they descend at opposite sides of the cruciblefor discharging the cast products therefrom, and an electric switch mechanism in circuit with both of said electrically actuated means and operable through the movements of said carriage for controlling the starting and stopping of the same.

12. A casting machine, comprising a base, a crucible thereon and ada ted to contain molten metal, \rpright standerds secured to said base on op oslte sides of said crucible, rails extending etween said standards and slidably connected therewith, a carriage between and horizontally movable on said; rails, two molds supported from said carriage in lateral spaced relation, means for moving said carriage horizontally over said rails for carrying the molds alternately from positions at opposite sides of the crucible to a osition over the same, means for moving t e rails vertically for filling one mold by dippin the same into and out of the molten meta in the crucible and at the same time moving the other mold into and out of emptying position atone side of the crucible, and means on opposite sides of the crucible for opening the molds as they descend at opposite sides of the crucible for discharging the cast products therefrom.

13-. A casting machine, comprising a base, a crucible thereon and adapted to contain molds supported by said carriage in lateral spaced relation, each mold comprising a fixed mold member, and a movable mold member, means for moving said carriage horizontally on said rails for carrying the molds alternately from positions at opposite sides of the crucible to a position above the same, means for moving the rails vertically for filling one mold by dipping the same into and out of the crucible and at the same time for emptying the other mold at one side of the crucible, and inclined rails on opposite sides of the crucible and in the path of downward movement of the molds for opening the same by separating the mold members as the molds descend at the sides of the crucible.

14. A casting machine, comprising a base,

a crucible thereon and adapted to contain molten metal, upright standards secured to said base on opposite sides of said crucible,

rails extending between .said standards and havin sliding connection therewith, a carriage etween and slidably mounted on said rails, two molds supported from said carriage in lateral spaced relation, means including a yoke and crank shaft for moving said carriage horizontally on said rails I for carrying the molds alternately from opposite SldeS-Of said crucible to a positionabove the same, cam means for moving the rails vertically for filling one mold by dip ping the same into and out of the molten metal in the crucible and at the same time moving the other mold into and out of emptying position at one side of the crucible for discharging the cast product therefrom, and means operable through the movementof said carriage for controlling the actuation of said crank and cam means.

15 A casting machine, comprising a base, a crucible thereon and adapted to contain molten metal, upright standards secured to said base on opposite sides of said crucible, sleeves 'slidably mounted on said standards, rails secured to and extending between said sleeves, a carriage extending between and slidably mounted on said rails, two molds supported by said carriage in lateral spaced relation, each mold com rising a fixed mold member and a move le mold member, frames extending between said rails at the ends thereof and secured to said sleeves, a roller on each frame, a horizontal shaft below said crucible, cams on said shafts, one for each frame and engaging said rollers for moving said carriage vertically, a crank shaft, a yoke engaging the same and connected with said carriage for moving ill of downward movement of said rollers as the molds descend for opening the molds and allowing discharge of cast products therefrom.

16. A casting machine, comprising a'base, a crucible thereon and adapted to contain molten metal, upright standards secured to said base on opposite sides of said crucible, sleeves slidably mounted -on said standards, rails secured to and extending between said sleeves, a carriage between said rails and slidably mounted thereon, tw'o molds se cured to said carriage and depending there from, each mold having fixed and movable mold members, electrically actuated means for moving the carriage vertically for filling one mold by dipping the same into and out of said crucible and for moving the other mold into and out of emptying position at one side of the crucible, a separate electrically actuated means for mom ing said carriage horizontally on said rails for moving said molds alternately from positions at opposite sides of said crucible to a position over the same, a shaft extending between and mounted on the standards at one end of the machine, a rotary switch mechanism operated by said shalt, two rotary members fined on said shaft, one operated in the vertical movement of said carriage and the other in the horizontal movenceaevs ment thereof, and means carried by said carriage for operating said rotary members to efiect the starting and stopping of'said carriage operating means.

17. A mold, comprising fixed and hinged mold members having a cavity therebetween, and spring pressed ejector pins carried by saidmold members for ejecting the cast product from said cavity when the mold is opened upon separating the members there of, the opposed ends of adjacent pins being in contact when the mold is closed and having notches to receive theca-st product and engage the same.

18, A casting machine, comprising a crucible adapted to contain molten metal, a mold, a carrier therefor, electrically actuated means acting on said carrier for diping said mold into and out of the crucible for filling the mold, separate electrically actuated means acting on said carrier for moving the filled mold to discharging po sition and returning the empty mold back to the crucible for refilling, means for opening the mold when at discharging position, and an electric switchmechanism in circuit with both of said electrically actuated means and operable through the movement of said carrier for controlling the starting and stopping ot the same In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my invention, ll afiix my signature this 23 day oil August, A. D. 1921.

. ElEtWllN L. VVILKE. 

